Coal cutter



March 4 1924. 1,485,8G1

-M. S. MOORE ET AL COAL CUTTER Filed y 26. 1922 2 Sheets-$heet 1 V nlluw 1| 11 1m March 4 1924 1,485,8fl11 M. s. MOORE ET AL I COAL CUTTER Patented Mar. 4, 1924.

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MATTHEW SMITH MOORE AND HERBERT J UBB, OF LONDON, ENG-LAND, ASSIGNORS TO COWLISHAW, WALKER & COIEPANY (192(1) LIIEITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, A

. BRITISH COMPANY.

Application filed May 26, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, hila'rrnnw SMITH Moore and HERBERT June, both subjects of the King of England, both residing in London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coal Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to coal-cutters of the cutter-bar or cutter chain types wherein the swinging movement of the cutting-member is effected through a pawl-andratchet device. Heretofore, it has been usual to provide the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism in a spanner which could be engaged with the spindle for effecting a swinging movement and then reciprocated by hand to give a stcp-by-step movement to the said spindle. The object of the present invention is to dispense with this hand-operation and provide automatic means for effecting the step-by-step movement, which means can be thown into or out of operation and made to reverse its direction of operation by hand-control.

According to this invention there is provided in a coal-cutter of the type described, the combination with a shaft of the cutting member driving-mechanism, and a second shaft operatively engaging the cuttingmember to effect the swinging movement aforesaid (for example engaging the banjo casing thereof), of a ratchet-wheel fast on said second shaft, a pair of oppositely-directed pawls adapted alternatively to engage said ratchet-wheel to drive it in one or the other direction, means operatively connecting the said first shaft to the said pawls to reciprocate them, and means for selectively engaging either pawl with the ratchet-wheel.

Preferably each of the pawls is provided with resilient controlling means tending to hold it in engagement with the ratchetwheel, and a manually-operated finger or cam engaging said pawls is movable to lift either or both of them out from engagement with the ratchet-wheel.

Ina preferred construction, the first-mentioned shaft carries an eccentric pin whereon the two oppositely-directed pawls are pivoted, and a pawl-controlling member is loosely mounted on the second or ratchetwheel-shaft so as to lie between and en- COAL CUTTER.

Serial No. 663,970.

gage the two pawls so as to swing them alternatively into and out from engagement with the ratchet-wheel as above described.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate so much of the mechanism of a coal-cutter as is necessary for the under standing of this invention Figure 1 is an elevation of the operating mechanism in its casing with the cover removed,

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-'2 of- Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

figure 4 is a section on the line 4.4 of Figure 1, and- Figure 5 is an elevation of the cutter bar and its operating mechanism comprising pawl-and-ratchet mechanism shown in Figures 1 and 4:.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

A portion of the casing of the coal-cutter is indicated at 10, and in it there is mounted a shaft 11, see Figures 1 and 4, which is driven in any convenient manner from the driving mechanism of the cutter. Conveniently one of the transmission shaftsof this mechanism carries a worm engaging a worm-wheel on the shaft 11, so that the latter is rotated at a comparatively slow speed. At the end of this shaft 11 there is provided a pin 12 mounted eccentric-ally on the shaft and carrying two pawls 13, 14(- Below the shaft 11 there is mounted a shaft 15 which is operatively connected to the cutter-member in any convenient manner, to efiect the swinging movement thereof. Conveniently, this shaft 15 carries a worm engaging racklike teeth formed on the banjo casing of the cutter, so that rotation of the worm effects rotation of the casing to bring about the desired swinging movement of the cutter. The shaft 15 carries a ratchet-wheel 16 fast upon it, and the two pawls 13, 14 are so disposed that they can be engaged with this ratchet-wheel, but they lie on opposite sides of it, and are oppositely-directed, so that the reciprocating movement of a ratchet derived from the eccentric movement of the pin 12 on rotation of the shaft 11 imparts an inter mittcnt feed to the ratchet-wheel 16 and shaft 15. It will be appreciated that the direction of rotation of the ratchet-wheel 16 is determined by which of the two pawls 13, 141 is in engagement with it.

The control of the pawls is effected by a rocking-member 17 which is freely mounted to rotate on the reduced end 18 of the wheel 16 (see Figure 3). At one side of the member 17 there is an arm 19 which is coupled by a link 20 to an arm 21 (see Figure 1) on a sleeve 22 fast on a manually-controlled shaft 23. The end of this shaft projects it will allow one mud to en a 'e the ratchetwheel and at the same time will maintain the other clear thereof.

The rocking-member 17 is further provided with an extension-piece 27 which lies below the wheel 16 and constitutes a support for two springs 28, 29 which bear upon the backs of the pawls 14:, 18, respectively, and press them forward towards the position in which they engage the ratchet-wheel. The disengagement of either pawl by the finger 26 is effected against the action of the corresponding spring.

The various parts illustrated are conveniently all mounted in a shallow casing provided on the side of the gear-head of the coal-cutter, and the manually-operated shaft 23 preferably extends from one side of the head through to the other side where it is fitted with another operating handle similar to the handle 25, so that the machine can be controlled from either side.

As shown in Figure 5, the shaft 11 is driven by worm gearing by a motor driven shaft A having a pinion meshing with a bevel gear G on the upper end of a short vertical shaft B that carries at its lower end a bevel gear D meshing with a bevel gear E which drives the cutter bar F. This cutter bar is journaled in the banjo casing or rotary head G of the machine. The outside of this casing or head is provided with teeth H with which meshes a gear wheel fast on the shaft 15.

In the operation of this device, when the cutter is working, the shaft 11 is also rotating and the pawls 13, 14; are reciprocated by it. If it is desired to swing the cutter-menr her, the handle 25 is turned in one direction or other so as to rock the shaft 23 and through the link20 to set the rocking-memher 17 to one side or other, thereby allowing one or other pawl to come into engagement with the ratchet-wheel 16 and thereby impart a slow movement to the ratchet-wheel and shaft 15 which effects the swinging movement aforesaid. The cutter-member will then be automatically swung step-by-step in that direction, and to stop the swinging movement or reverse it, it is merely necessary to turn the handle 25 to adjust the finger 26 on the rocking-member 17 into its central position or to the other side, as the case may be. If it is desired to operate the swinging mechanism by hand for any reason, the finger 26 is moved to bring both pawls out from engagement with the ratchetwhcel, and a key or spanner can be applied to the projecting square end 30of the shaft 15 which is allowed to project through the cover 2-1 of the casing.

What we claim as our inventionand desire to secure by Letters Patent is 7 j V 1. In a coal-cutter, the combination with a shaft of the cutter-member driving-mechanism, and a second shaft operatively engaging the cutter-member to effect the swinging movement thereof, of a ratchetwheel fast on said second shaft, a pair of oppositely-directed pawls adapted alternatively to engage said ratchet-wheel to drive it in one or the other direction, means operatively connecting said first shaft to said pawls to reciprocate them and means for selectively engaging either pawl with the ratchet-wheel. V i

2. In a coal-cutter having the parts set forth in clainrl, the combination with the pawls, of resilient means tending to hold each pawl in engagement with the ratchetwheel, and manually-operated finger or cam engaging said pawls and movable to lift either or both out from engagement with the ratchet-wheel.

3. In a coal-cutter having the parts set forth in claim 1, the construction wherein the first shaft carries an eccentric pin, and

the two oppositely-directed pawls. are pivoted on said pin, and a pawl-controlling member (17, 26) mounted loosely on the ratchet-wheel lies between and engages the two pawls, substantially as described.

4t. In a coal-cutter, the combination with a driving shaft and a second shaft to be driven thereby, of a ratchet-wheel arranged to drive the said second shaft, twooppositely directed pawls eccentrioally mounted on said driving shaft and arranged to cooperate each with the ratchetwheel, and a pawl-controlling member rotatably mounted co-axially with the ratchet wheel and extending between the two pawls and arranged to lift either or both of them from engagement with the ratchet wheel.

5. In a coal-cutter, the combination with a driving shaft and a second shaft to be driven thereby, of a ratchet wheel arranged to drive the said second shaft, two oppoher and tending to hold each pawl in en sitely directed pawls eccentrically mounted gagement with the ratchet wheel.

on said driving shaft and arranged to co- In testimony whereof we have signed our operate each with the ratchet wheel a pawlnames to this specification in the presence of controlling member rotatably mounted 00- two subscribing witnesses.

axially with the ratchet wheel, and extend- MATTHElV SMITH MOORE. ing between the two pawls and arranged to HERBERT JUBB.

lift either or both of them from engagement Witnesses:

with the ratchet wheel, and resilient means SIDNEY W. ORME,

1 mounted on the said pawl-controlling mem- DOUGLAS S. DEAN. 

